The high-power laser installed at Magurele, near Romania’s capital, was successfully tested on Friday, May 18, at 30% of its capacity.

The test was carried out at an intermediary power of 3 peta-watts (PW), making it the most powerful laser in Europe. Further tests will gradually increase the power of the laser up to its nominal capacity of 10 PW, which should be reached in February next year, local Hotnews.ro reported.

The test on Friday was the first one involving the whole system as only parts of it have been tested so far.

The construction of this laser, which has been financed with EU funds, started in September 2016. The Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) is the biggest research project in Romania, part of a pan-European program. The total cost was EUR 356.2 million.

Romania to invest EUR 70 mln in scientific park near Magurele laser

Romania’s high-power laser is assembled

editor@romania-insider.com